Velocipede.



No. 719,770. PATENTED FEB. s, 1903. E. R. ESTBP.

VELOGIPEDE.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 26, 1900.

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U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN RALPH ESTEP, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO S. A.MILES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 719,770, dated February3, 1903.

Application filed October 26, 1900. Serial No. 34,463- (No model.)

1'0 all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, EDWIN RALPH ESTEP, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,haveinvented a new and usef ul Im provement in Velocipedes, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to improvements in bicycles equippedwith pro pelling means comprising both a motor and pedaling apparatus.

My primary object is to provide a frame of improved construction inwhich one of the frame members comprises a suitable box or casingwherein are journaled a rotary motor member and also the pedal-shaft;

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a bicyclehaving aframe constructed in accordance with my improvements; Fig. 2, anenlarged broken vertical longitudinal section taken as indicated at line2 of Fig. 3; Fig. 3, an enlarged broken section taken as indicated atline 3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 a view in side elevation of the frame.

In the preferred construction there are employed the usual top framemember a, the lower front frame member or reach a, steering-head (1upper rear forks a lower rear forks a, two cross-braces a and a and acasing or box of, connected to the adjacent ends of the members a, a aand a As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the casing a is provided with lugs b,1), b b and b for connection with the adjacent members. In theconstruction shown the casin g a has fiat sides and a rounded front andlower portion, from which the edge walls of the casing convergerearwardly and meet in a rounded apex. Preferably the casing comprisesan integrally-formed portion supplied with lugs for attachment to theadjacent frame members and provided with circular lateral openings 0 andc. The openings 0 are closed by plates 0 0 secured in any suitablemanner. The perforations 0' receive plates 0 c connected by one or morebolts 0 and supplied with eccentrically-placed pedal-shaft bearings c Ihave shown the bicycle equipped with a gasolene-engine, the cylinder ofwhich is indicated by the letter (Z, the piston by d, the connecting-rodby 01 and the fly-wheels by d and d. The wheels (1 and d are connectedby the crank d The wheel (2 is fixed to a rotary shaft f, journaled inthe plate 0 and having fixed to its outer end a sprocket-wheel f. Thewheel (1 is fixed to a similar shaft f journaled in the plate 0 andcarrying at its outer end a pinion f The pedal crank-shaft isrepresented by g and the sprocket-wheel thereon by g. The rear-wheelshaft is represented by h. and is shown journaled in an eccentric h andequipped with a large sprocket-wheel 71 and 6 a small sprocket-wheel7L8. A sprocket-chain it connects the sprocket-wheels f and 71 and asprocket-chain 71 connects the wheels g and h I I have shown the spaceabove the cylinder d and between the frame members a and a occupied by achamber or receptacle 70, whose walls are suitably grooved 0r indentedto receive the adjacent convex surfaces of the tubular frame members.The receptacle 7c 75 may serve to receive suitable electric apparatus Itfor producing a spark, a suitable carburet-er k and a gasolene-tank 70with which said carburetor is in communication.

The engine-valves may be operated from So the pinion f through anysuitable medium.

The tubular frame member a is shown provided with a removable cap 7& andmay serve as a receptacle for a battery.

As appears from Fig. 2, the cylinder d is bolted to the upper wall ofthe casing a and there is a perforation Z in the upper wall of thecasing, through which the connecting-rod d passes. I

It will be observed that the relative sizes of the wheels f and 71, aresuch that the rearwheel shaft is caused to rotate at a lower speed thanthe motor-shaft f, and the wheels g and h are of such relative sizesthat the wheel 9 rotates at a slower rate than does the wheel 9 5 h Thusthe rider is enabled in pedaling to keep time readily with the motor. Itwill be observed that the distance between the motor-shaft f and therear-wheel shaft It may be varied to change the tension of the chain ICOh by moving the eccentric h, and the distance between the rear-wheelshaft and the pedal-shaft may be varied after adjustment of the chain hto give a suitable tension to the chain 77?.

Modifications within the spirit of my invention may be made, the gist ofmy invention lying, generally stated, in the provision of a casing for amotor or motor member, which casing constitutes also a frame memberwhich serves as a connecting medium between adjacent frame members. Morespecifically stated, theinvention comprises a casing which constitutesboth a frame member and a journal-box for a pedal-shaft and a rotarymotor member, in combination with the adjacent frame members;

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

for the rear wheel of the machine, sprocketwheels connected with saidrotary motor member and with said crank-shaft, respectively,

and chains connecting one of the rear sprocket wheels with the motorsprocketwheel and the other rear sprocket-wheel with the pedal-shaftsprocket-wheel, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a vehicle of the character described, a frame having tubularmembers, including a front reach, a rear reach, and two substantiallyparallel cross-braces, a casing serving to connect the frame membersadjacent thereto, including said cross-braces, said casing comprising anintegrally-formed lower frame member provided at its rear portion with apedal-shaft bearing, and peripherally with lugs for attachment to theadjacent ends ofadjacent frame members, and side plates removablysecured to said lower frame member and provided with bearings for arotary motor member, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

EDWIN RALPH ESTEP. In presence of-- D. W. LEE, ALBERT D. BACCI.

